Harper Government Opens Door to Overseas Energy Markets, Jobs and Economic Growth for Haisla First Nation

The Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, today announced new regulations that will allow the proposed Kitimat LNG liquefied natural gas facility on the Haisla First Nation’s Bees Indian Reserve No. 6 to proceed.

The Kitimat LNG facility will provide Canada’s energy producers with a doorway to overseas markets, in addition to creating jobs and economic growth opportunities for the Haisla First Nation and the entire northwest region of British Columbia.

Our government continues to take steps that will contribute to job creation, economic growth and Canada’s long-term prosperity,” said Minister Duncan.

“The Kitimat LNG facility will create well-paying jobs in British Columbia, while giving Canadian energy producers access to important overseas markets. I applaud the Haisla First Nation for their vision, leadership and commitment to seizing this opportunity for their community.”

The Haisla Natural Gas Facility Regulations were created under the First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act (FNCIDA). FNCIDA was a First Nations-led initiative that allows the government to work with First Nations and provincial regulatory authorities to create regulations for complex commercial and industrial development projects on reserve.

In addition to the Haisla Natural Gas Facility Regulations, the Government of Canada, Government of British Columbia and Haisla Nation have also signed a tripartite agreement that ensures administrative, monitoring and compliance activities for the LNG facility are performed and enforced by provincial officials.

“The BC Government is working with industry and First Nations to foster economic growth through the expansion of our province’s natural gas sector,” said British Columbia’s Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Bill Bennett.

“I would like to thank the Government of Canada and the Haisla Nation for working with us to move the Kitimat LNG facility another step forward.”

“Kitimat LNG offers new, important and sustainable economic opportunities which the Haisla people are eager to embrace,” says Haisla Chief Councillor Ellis Ross. “We have seen new jobs, business opportunities, and skills training come to our people since KM LNG signed its agreement with us, and we know that the agreement signed today with Canada and BC is a milestone in making the project a reality.

On behalf of the 1,700 Haisla people, I thank both governments for their commitment to this important agreement and the better future it is bringing our people.”

The key commercial proponents for the project are Apache Canada Ltd. and Chevron Canada Ltd. operating as Kitimat LNG.

“The Government of Canada, Government of BC and the Haisla Nation have shown exceptional leadership and support towards BC’s new LNG industry” said Tim Wall, President of Apache Canada. “This regulatory agreement builds on the many other agreements with the Haisla that has led to jobs, training, education and economic development in Kitimaat Village.”

“I want to congratulate the Haisla First Nation, the Governments of Canada and British Columbia, and Apache Canada for their shared leadership in finalizing the regulations governing the Kitimat LNG facility site,” said Jeff Lehrmann, president, Chevron Canada Limited. “We look forward to working with the Haisla First Nation, both governments, other First Nations and local communities to realize the project’s long-term economic potential.”

The Kitimat LNG facility is being constructed on Haisla Nation reserve land at Bish Cove, approximately 650 kilometres (400 miles) north of Vancouver. The proposed two-train Kitimat LNG Project, currently progressing through the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) phase, has a Canadian National Energy Board license to export 10 million tons per annum of LNG.

For more information on the FNCIDA, visit First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act.